Indian Birds 



thicket. (Illus. I. F., p. 80. [Illustration not 

 a good one.]) 



131a. Taccocua leschenaulti : The Sirkeer 

 Cuckoo. (F. 1 1 29), (J. 222), (IV). 



This bird, although nowhere abundant, is 

 widely distributed. It has the appearance of 

 a large long-tailed babbler, and when it runs 

 along the ground it looks like a mongoose. It 

 is an earthy brown bird. The outer tail feathers 

 are black with white tips. The bill is cherry- 

 red ; this, perhaps, is the reason why Indians 

 call the bird Jafigli tota. Like the crow- 

 pheasant it builds a nest. 



7he Green Parrots, 132-134 



Every dweller in India must be familiar with 

 these noisy birds, both in the captive and the 

 wild state. They go about in small flocks, 

 looking like " live emeralds in the sun," and 

 uttering loud screams and harsh cries. During 

 flight they turn from side to side " like badly 

 balanced arrows." They nestle in holes in 

 trees or buildings. 



Three species are to be numbered among the 

 common birds of India. 



132. Palceornis nefalefisis : The Alexandrine 

 or Large Indian Paroquet. (F. 11 35), (J. 147), 

 ( + III, but with a tail over a foot long.) 

 172 



